Indicating plug fuse for electric circuits



Nov. 16, 1926. 1,607,313

F. J. SCHORDEN-E C INDICATING PLUG FUSE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed Feb. 2, 1926 IN VEN TOR A TTOR E Y 3M5 50mm Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

FRED J. SCHORDENE, OF PATCHOGUE. NEW YORK.

INDICA'IING- PLUG FUSE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed February 2, 1926. Serial No. 85,495

This invention relates to. fuse plugs for tral threaded aperture engaging a socket 11 electrical circuits, and particularly an indicating lug, which shall give visible warning of the lowing out of the fuse element contained therein. I

A further object is to'provide an article conforming to general practice in respect to the form, and proportions of the outside threaded shell inembers, which may be inserted in fuse sockets such as may be found in the usual electric circuits.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows an exterior side elevation of a device constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 shows a central vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the device.

Fig. 4 shows a horizontal sectional, view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 6 shows a further modification.

Fig. 7 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the'line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a similar construction as Fig. 2, but of slightly modified form.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of the clamp for the lower end of the fuse 18, as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of the clamping means for the upper end of the fuse 18, as shown in Fig. 9.

Referring shown in Fig. 2, a fuse element 18, connects from the central contact 14 through a groove in the insulation member 12 to the contact shell 10. A conductor disk 35 has a projection 36 extending thru the socket 11, and

making contact therewith. A connection wire 19, in a groove of the insulation member 12, has its upper end soldered to the projection 36, and its lower end to the shell 10. Referrin to the form shown in Fig. 9, a contact she 10, of the customar threaded construction to fit" into standa-r electrical sockets, is mounted on an insulating element 12, preferably of porcelain, which has a cento the form of the invention adapted to support an indicating electric lamp 21, having an upper threaded portion 22, and at the uppermost extremity a contact pole 23. Co-actable with this pole 23 is another pole 15 on the lower end of a connecting element 13, which is provided at its uppermost portion with a contact 14, which is adapted to connect with the customary central contact of an electric socket, and is formed with threadsl l to engage the connecting element 13. Clamped between the top of element 13 and the contact 14 is a fuse element 18 of suitable material which in a channel 12 of the insulating material 12, to a point near the contact shell 10, and is clamped thereto by means of a toothed lever 10" pivotally mounted to the shell, and forced by spring'lO", against a toothed stationary portion 10, integral with the contact shell. An insulation washer 16 of semispherical form is arranged to cover the end of the plug so as to cover the channel 12, and is held down by the contact 14,- and by having its outer edge clamped between the shell and the insulation member 12.

The bottom of the connecting element 13' is insulated frorn' the disk 35 by theinsulation piece 17, the-"Zipper end ofwire 19, is soldered to a conductor disk 35, specifically the projection thereon 36 which makes contact with the socket 11 which in turn contacts with socket 22, and said wire may be a fusible wire of higher melting point than the fuse element 18, and this wire 19 is clamped at its lower end by the contact shell and soldered thereto. The member 12 has extending downward and flaring outward a rim to' form a lamp shade 25, which has a protecting wire mesh 24 secured thereto.

.It will be seen, that normally with the fuse 18 intact, current passing thru the plug will follow the course of least resistance which is through the. fuse 18, and the lamp circuit being of high resistance will result in the lamp being unlit, but should the fuse 18 blow, the current will then have to pass through the lamp, illuminating the same,

continue through the socket 11, the socket 22,, and thence through the wire 19 to the outer' shell. The lamp, now being illuminated would indicate that the fuse was blown and must be replaced. Y Y

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the fuse 18 makes circuit from the contact point 14 to the shell thru a passage in the asses member 12, while wire 19 connects the socket 22 to the shell in a direct path, and the top of the fuse is provided with a large insulation washer 26.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the insulation member 19/ is formed with two longitudinal chambers, one of these chambers being on the inner portion, which. houses contact spring .30 bearing against the socket 11, while the other chamber being on theouter portion, housing contact spring 31 which bears against the contact shell 10, the springs 30 and 31 being electrically connected by means of the wire 19 the semi-spherical washer 16, and the fiat washer 16. The part 14 is removably fastened to connecting element 13, and upon the removal of this part 14*, the top semi-spherical washer 16, the fuse 18", and the washer 16, together with the'rim 32 are removable, thereby allowing a complete replacement of this portion. It is readily seen that when a fuse 18 blows, the entire portions may be replaced witha new fuse contained therein.

The electrical circuits in this modification are similar to those of the above modifications. One circuit exists from the top contact end of 13, through the fuse 18*, thereafter-1 e'-the circular rim 32, which makes contact with the shell, and the other circuit extends from the top contact end of 13, to

the bottom contact 15, thence to the lamp.

contact 23, thru, the lamp filament, to the socket 11, thereafter to contact spring 30, thru wire 19, contact spring 31, and finally to the shell 10.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be, made, I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changin the form of the details of construction or ot erwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts 1. In a fuse plug of the type described, a supporting insulatlon member provided with an outer contact shell, and an inner lanip socket, said insulation member having a longitudinal groove on the inner wall, and another longitudinal groove on the outer wall, a spring contact in said inner groove bearing against said lamp socket, a spring contact in said outer groove bearing against said contact shell, and a Wire electrically connecting said two spring contacts.

2. In a plug fuse of the class described, a threaded shell of conductive material, a threaded socket supported therein by means of an annular rim having its outer edges crimped within the walls of the said shell, and current connecting means between the said shell and the said socket, a connecting element extending from the interior of the said socket to the exterior of the said shell and insulated from the said members, and a strip of suitable fuse material-connected to the said element and to the said shell, and the space surrounding the said fuse packed with nonconducting material, an electric bulb with suitable stem inserted within .the said socket and a protective shade member having a mesh covering thereon to'shield the said bulb, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a plug fuse'of the class described,

a threaded shell of electric conductive mateand the said connecting member extending through the base of the said socket and insulated therefrom, and a fuse element attached to the said connecting member at one end, and at the otherto the aforesaid shell, and the lower edges of the said shell crimped around an annular member which serves as a closure for the face of the said shell, and an electric bulb having its stem inserted within the said socket and its contact point engaging the first mentioned connecting mem scribed.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

' FRED J. SCI-IORDENE,

er, substantially as shown and de-- 

